Hirschman Gets Surprise Holland Victory

HOLLAND, N.Y. – The mighty SUNOCO Race of Champions (RoC) Modified Tour returned to the Holland NASCAR Motorsports Complex for their 100 lap event and it was Matt Hirschman getting the victory after Pete Brittain failed post race inspection.

In regular Saturday Holland action, Dave Wilson Jr. would pick up his second consecutive win Bank of Holland Chargers and Ben Russo picked up his second straight win for the NASCAR 4 Cylinder Hornets. After a horrific wreck at the conclusion of the RoC 100 which caused damage to the catch fence and starter’s stand, the Getzoni Nationwide Agency NASCAR Pro Modifieds and McClurg Auto Group Late Models will be racing in double features on July 13.

Erick Rudolph and Chuck Hossfeld led the stout field on RoC Modifieds to the green flag with Rudolph showing the way on lap one. Hossfeld used the outside to get the lead on lap two. As Hossfeld took over the lead, Matt Hirschman moved into third and Mike Leaty passed Mike Fiebelkorn Jr. for fourth early on.

The races first caution occurred on lap six as Danielle Buchek lost the handle in turn one after some contact with Ricky Knapp. On the restart it was Hossfeld taking command as Hirschman looked underneath Leaty to complete the pass for third but Leaty used the outside groove to take over the third position on lap nine. Meanwhile, Tour rookie Bobby Holmes passed fellow tour rookie and former Holland Pro Modified Champion Mike Fiebelkorn Jr to move into the top five.

At the races one-quarter mark, “the Hotshoe” continued to show the way with Rudolph, Mike Leaty, Matt Hirschman and Bobby Holmes were inside the top five but the drivers on the move included “Pistol” Pete Britten and second generation driver Andy Jankowiak.

Pete Brittain was the man on the move as he started 15th on the grid and the Johnson-Rutherford Racing number 11 as “the Jersey Outlaw” moved into fourth just as Doug Reaume slowed to bring out the races second yellow on lap 45. After several top teams making adjustments in the pits, Hossfeld and Rudolph shared the front row on the restart as Hossfeld pulled away from the field.

Patrick Emerling made “a manly move” and went three wide to move inside the top five and at the races halfway point, Hossfeld continued to show the way driving the A-Superior Concrete, Jerry Gradl Motors No. 22 with fellow Ransomville resident Erick Rudolph racing in second with Mike Leaty, Pete Brittain and Patrick Emerling racing in fifth. Emerling was followed closely to the line by T.J. Potrzebowski, Mike Fiebelkorn Jr., Nick Pecko and Matt Hirschman racing in the top ten.

Brittain raced his way to third on lap 51 and quickly reeled in the top two. Just four laps later, Britten passed Rudolph and went side by side with Hossfeld and Britten took the lead on lap 58. Britten pulled away from Hossfeld and Rudolph as Patrick Emerling continued his way through the field and raced his L2 Autosport teammate Mike Leaty and used the “slide job” to move into third as defending RoC Champion and race winner Matt Hirschman moved into sixth and tried to enter the top five.